Arvil (Bud) Wright Brock

Dad was a unique man with Movie Star looks, a high intellect, kind heart, and many skills. However; he was also a functional alcoholic (As were many other family members) who would not drink thru the work week, but come Friday evening he would consume large amounts of alcohol until early Sunday evenings. While it was obvious he loved and cared for his whole family, he was not one to interact with us on a regular basis or engage in conversations

I do not have a memory of us having an extended conversation until he suffered a heart attack. Once he was out of the hospital, I drove him around to visit friends and for the first time in my lifetime, we would have free flowing discussions on a wide range of subjects.

Dad made the most of his little farm, planting crops and raising livestock to support the family. As winter would approach, we would butcher poultry and a pig and the occasional cow. I found dad to be kind-hearted as he would have me actually take a rifle and bring the animals down. He then would engage in the rest of the butchering.

Dad was a highly skilled heavy equipment operator, who also taught himself how to repair electronic devices such as radios and televisions. Also, dad was able to construct his own still in the workshop at the farm. I remember multiple occasions where I saw dad intoxicated and come to learn that he was quite the musician. He would pick up and play a guitar or the harmonica and crank out some great music. I also discovered recorded tapes which he used to record many songs that he sang when he was by himself.

In all my years of playing sports at Medora, dad only attended one basketball game. At this game, I had a very good performance and he told my mom he could not believe what a good athlete I was. I understood his surprise, as like most teenagers I was slow to do anything at home. He was so excited when I got home after the game. and while I saw he was intoxicated, he was also beaming with pride that I was his son. This was the happiest event we ever shared. However, he never came to another game. This was difficult for me to resolve.

Our relationship probably contributed to me trying to overachieve as a father when interacting with both of my sons, as both rejected me at times.

Dad faced a financial crisis after his first heart attack as he did not have any savings and was not eligible for disability. His union (a subset of the Teamsters’ union) was of little assistance as they were Mob controlled.

I began sending dad a few hundred dollars a month. My sister-in-law told me that they didn’t know what they would do without my contributions. At dad's last doctor's visit, dad was told he could go back to work the next week. However, he had a second heart attack the morning he was preparing to return to work and passed away.

Pearl Edward Brock

Ed was the “Wild One” of dad's family. He was a functional alcoholic who fathered six children with his first wife (Gladys Daulton) in Medora.

I had a good relationship with Eds’ oldest son Roger. My brother Don spent a lot of time with his son Jack and I believe my youngest brother Rusty interacted with his youngest son Rick on frequent occasions.

Ed left Medora and began a relationship with a lady in Utah and then continued on to Alaska where he fathered more children with a lady there.

Ed was reported to have said he fathered 25 children that he knew of.

Late in his life he returned to Medora to re-engage with his family and friends.

Ed had a bad heart and died a few years after returning to Medora, some said he just wanted to come home to die.

Ed was the largest of the siblings, standing Six Foot Six inches tall and he told us he weighed 325 pounds. He also told us he was the “Arm wrestling champion of Alaska.

On one occasion, Ed brought his oldest son from Alaska to dads’ farm and I found him to be a fine young man. During one of my visits to dads’ farm he decided that I needed to arm wrestle his son.

His son was somewhat reluctant, but Ed insisted and we proceeded with the match. His son looked like he was going to win, but I refused to be beaten and rallied for the win.

Ed told his son that he had me beat and should have tried harder, Ed then told me “You know I can beat him too”.

A few days later, ED and I had a good match and he proved that he was better than me.

One of my last interactions with Ed, was when I came out of dads’ house and found Ed on his knees wanting me to wrestle with him. Not knowing how much he had to drink, I felt nothing good could come from this, so I declined and went on my way.

George Brock

I really had not interacted with uncle George until I began working for him in my freshman year of high school. And while Uncle George could be a little sarcastic at times overall, he treated me very well.

I learned a lot about mechanics that would prove very useful to me for the rest of my life.

George had a son (Steve) and a daughter (Karen). My first encounter with Steve was not pleasant as he was the meanest little kid I had ever encountered to that point. Fortunately, he outgrew this and turned into a very pleasant young man. Karen was much younger than I and so we had very little interaction. She worked at the hospital in Seymour and became disabled after a hard fall.

My junior year George had acquired a second service station North of Medora on U.S. 50.

Many Sunday's I was the only one who would be working at this station. George's wife (Marcella) would always bring me lunch when I was working by myself at the station, which I appreciated very much.

George and Marcella built a very good business over the years. While George was an excellent mechanic, I always felt Marcella was the business manager.

George would allow me to fish in his farm ponds and I caught many fish there.

George collected Coca Cola items and fostoria glass. He always enjoyed showing me his collections.

At his Medora station there were always a few regulars who hung around after their gas purchase. I always enjoyed their conversations as it allowed me to catch up on the news of the day.

It was at this location that I was almost killed or seriously injured.

My dad asked me to take a tractor down to the station and pull a truck bed out to the road. However, while trying to accomplish this, the front end of the bed dug into the ground and started to flip over and crush me on the steering wheel. Thank goodness, the tractor had very heavy fenders on it and the trailer hit the fenders and rolled off onto the ground. But, not without leaving a very large cut on the inside of my left arm.

I said goodbye to Uncle George after he refused to give me a wage increase as I had been working about two years since my last raise. I was making $1 an hour and I asked for a $0.25 raise and he refused. I then asked for a nickel raise and he refused. I took the keys to the station off my key ring and handed them to him.

Ephie Brock Junior

Ephie was dad's youngest brother. I did not have an opportunity to interact with Uncle Ephie on a regular basis. One year, a local preacher had me and other young men in the community lay down a brick surface for a new basketball court.

Ephie was a solid player and on occasion, he would stop by and play a few pickup games with us.

He enjoyed horses and doing other things around his farm. One of the most notable activities that I'm aware of, was that he decided to add a basement to his existing home. He accomplished this by digging out one bucket of dirt at a time until he completed the project.

Dads’ Brother - Joe

I never met Joe as he was killed in the Korean War February 12, 1951.

Sergeant Brock was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded on November 27, 1950 and returned to duty December 14, 1950.

He was killed in Action February 12, 1951. Joe was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Metal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Metal

Dad's Sister Geneva

Geneva was much like her mother, a hard worker and a very kind and compassionate lady. Geneva had four children. Virgil, Arvil (Babe), Hazel and Rose Dean.

Dad's Sister - Joann

Joann - who was always referred to as Mag, was married to Marvin Foist. She was a wonderful lady as well and Marvin was quite the Joker. Mom and dad always enjoyed our visits to their home and we all got along quite well with all their children, that being Larry, Debbie, Gary, and Doug. I had many visits with Mag and Marvin and always enjoyed our conversations.

Dad's Sister - Selma

Selma - Was married to Terry Verbal and they had two children Mark and Sherry

Dad's Sister - Jewel

Aunt Jewel was always sweet to me, and would tell me I was her favorite nephew. Then she would smile and say “you know I tell all of them they are my favorite”. Jewel married Tommy Beavers and they had two girls, Rita and Tammy.

Later they adopted two boys Joey and Jamie. Dad was very fond of Tommy and his little sister Jewel. They came to our house in Medora on several occasions for drinks and extended conversations. Dad and Tommy got so intoxicated during one of these visits that Dad actually got up and danced with Uncle Tommy. 

Jewel had many challenges in her life and Dad always tried to help her out when he could.

Ronald Jay Brock

While all my brother's have experienced a high degree of success over their lifetime, Ron has been the most successful in his undertakings. I feel Ron has the highest pure intellect of any of his siblings. This was validated by his long time employer ( Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane) when he was recognized as their “Employee of the Year”.

Ron was and continues to be one of the most productive people that I have known.

Much like Dad, Ron has been able to accomplish anything that he has undertaken, being it home construction/repairs, automobiles, electronics and so forth. Although, I do remember the time Ron helped me convert a wood planer from 110 volt to a 220 volt. Unfortunately we had a wire crossed which could easily have electrocuted us - No harm, No foul - LOL

Ron is an extremely compassionate individual, having been one to address the needs of our handicapped mother over a long period of time.

Also, When his stepsons’ marriage dissolved shortly after his wife gave birth to twin boys. Ron And his wife stepped up and helped his stepson Ronnie (Who had tremendous respect for Ron) provide a nurturing environment for his new grandsons.

Ron along with his wife Sharon of many years have kept their grandsons on a path that I expect will enable them to be very successful in life.

Donald Ray Brock

My brother Don is a hard worker and achieved professional success as a civil engineer. Don and I enjoyed fishing trips on his pontoon boats at Monroe Reservoir and playing basketball together in pickup games in Medora and at his Purdue campus when he was in college. Much like his twin brother Ron, Don was always working on numerous projects. One of my most memorable events was a time I was visiting Don at his home. Don was working on a project and I was going into his house to check on the rest of the family, when I saw four darts on the top of his driveway wall. I turned and saw the dartboard about 10 feet away. I decided to toss the darts at the board. On my first throw, I hit dead center on the board. Likewise, on my second throw I hit dead center again. And unbelievably, My third dart found dead center on the board. I looked over at Don and saw his look of amazement. I then realized I was not thinking about my throws, rather my body was on autopilot. On my last throw, my mind engaged and I missed the center of the board by six inches.

Don fathered 2 children (Kevin and Kari) with his first wife Sharon and 2 with his second wife Michelle (Casteen and Cortland).

Russell Joe Brock

Rusty was our surprise sibling being 12 years younger than myself. Rusty inherited Dads’ mechanical and operating expertise of heavy construction equipment. Rusty was an excellent cook be it traditional food or Wild Game.